The Fete Blog

It’s not my birthday– yet. My birthday is in early May. But for the past few years, my birthday has been a blip. I haven’t done anything extravagant to celebrate since my 21st (an over-the-top party with my best friend and birthday buddy); every year it’s just another day where a few dozen people say hello on Facebook and I feel old. In high school, it was always the day of an AP exam and in college it was always during finals! Not cool. So when I read Stephanie’s post on the importance of loving your birthday, I drank the koolaid.

image by John

Her premise? Your birthday should be celebrated, not feared or ignored– after all, it only happens once a year and it’s the reason you are oh-so-wonderfully you. Why not celebrate every day for the month leading up to it? Celebrating doesn’t have to mean downing bottles of champagne or going out on the town every night– but it does mean taking time for YOU. Once a day, every day, do something that you love, value, or crave, but never really make time for the rest of the year. Sounds fabulous.

Stephanie drew up a list of 100+ things she could do for her birthday month; I thought smaller and only jotted up 31 (one for each day of the month):

1) Go to yoga!

2) Bake an incredible birthday cake

3) Buy something fashionable for myself

4) Skype with Sloanie

5) Get a manicure

6) Get a new tattoo!

7) Have a Lord of the Rings marathon with John

8) Make a meal from a new cookbook

9) Go to a live show

10) Go to Chicago for a weekend

11) Buy a present for John!

12) Send a special present to someone who least expects it

13) Write a thank you note to my parents

14) Pool time!

15) Play tennis

16) Get a fresh new haircut

17) Watch Mad Men season 5

18) Bake something wild

19) Visit an art museum

20) Buy something from an Etsy shop

21) Volunteer

22) Grow some herbs at home

23) Reach out to a publication to contribute

24) Reach out to Kat and Nubby about magazines

25) Go to a live performance

26) Start using chia seeds!

27) Have a girls wine & movie night

28) Start a 2012 photo album

29) Watch a foreign film

30) Go on an extra long romantic walk with John

31) Spend an afternoon lounging at a lake

Now, I have to admit– it’s been a few days into my birthday month and I’ve only crossed one thing off the list (two in a second– I’m FINALLY going to a yoga class tonight!). But I love the concept and it was fun (and difficult) coming up with 31 things I wanted to do for myself.

When is your birthday– and how do you celebrate? Do you think you could manage a month of doing little things for yourself?

Today, my darling husband and his twin brother Sean turn 30. THIRTY! 30. Wow. I know, I know, 30 is nothing nowadays– but it’s a milestone for me (just wait until it’s MY 30th birthday– eeek!). It’s kind of crazy to be married to a 30-year-old– it feels very proper, very adult, very serious. But the boys, of course, think nothing of it.

I attempted to pry into their emotional world the other day, asking them leading questions about turning 30 and what they thought about being 30 and how it would change them. I got nothing in response. These boys had absolutely no reaction to the big 3-0. It was less than a number to them– it was a non-issue. At first it was frustrating to me: how can you really feel nothing about such a milestone birthday? But then it became refreshing. Why should age be an issue? Being young shouldn’t stop you from following your dreams; becoming “older” shouldn’t stop you either.

John and Sean are weird. They’re both professional athletes, which means the majority of their lives have been lived like teenagers: the biggest job they’ve ever held was comprised of running daily, working out, eating a ton, and sleeping. That’s been their biggest responsibility. They love it– and they have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Turning 30 doesn’t mean stress or AARP cards or adopting stereotypical adult lifestyles. Instead, today is their annual renewal of enthusiasm for their lifestyles and faith in their choices. Turning 30 has no negative repercussions for John and Sean; they’re heading into this new era of their lives with as much passion and cool confidence as they did their 20s and teen years.

I wish they had given me some quippy, wise quotes that I could pass along (they didn’t– they caught on to the interview questions I was asking and buttoned up their lips), but I think this is an overall tenant of their personalities: they never, ever look at another person (their running talent, their life choices, their abilities) with jealousy. They’re never envious. If you’re worried about what someone else is doing, you’re not living your own life the right way– and that’s a trademark quality they’re taking in to their 30s. Happy Birthday to my incredible husband and his (eligible! 30, flirty, and thriving!) younger brother. I cannot wait to see where your 30s take you!

wedding photo by Jen Fariello!

Hooray! Today is Jen Fariello’s birthday!

If you haven’t noticed my love affair for this incredible photographer by now, maybe you’re not really reading this blog; Jen Fariello is my mentor and role model– and I am lucky to also call her one of my closest friends. She is one of the most talented fine art and wedding photographers in the country and has graced Charlottesville with her presence since she attended UVA and fell into photography on a whim. There is so much to say about Jen, but that will have to be saved for a series of future posts– for now, suffice it to say that I am so honored and thankful to be a part of Jen’s life, personally and professionally. I’m unable to celebrate her in person today– but am sending massive waves of love her way. If you swing by her Facebook, Twitter, blog, or studio, make sure you wish her many merry returns!

Happy 29th Birthday to the beach babies in my life– John and his twin brother Sean! This is my absolute favorite picture from their childhood. Here’s to so many more beach birthdays!

First things first– if you remember back to Monday’s post, I’m totally loving “girls in glasses” images. This snap of Robert Radifera’s three-year-old daughter on her birthday completely fits in that category! This photo is sweet, silly, and completely pulls on my heart. Robert takes an annual portrait session of his daughters on their birthdays and this year’s shoot with Willa is not only stunning, it evokes a beautiful nostalgia for past, present, and future childhood. Happy Friday!